Early Vevay By PERRETDUFOUR (Continued)

The associate judges who were by the laws in force in territory authorized to transact the county business, such as causing roads and highways to be laid out, opened and kept in repair, and also the appointment of overseers of the roads, and assigning the hands to each supervisor, the appointment of all township officers except justices of the peace were also authorized to transact business pertaining to decedents’ estates granting licenses for keeping taverns, and establishing rates to be charged by tavern keepers, had a great deal of business pertaining to opening highways to attend to for the first year or two. To entitle a person to obtain a license to keep tavern he was compelled by the law to have the petition of a certain number of persons praying the court to grant the license, and also to prove to the satisfaction of the court that he was a person of good moral character, and that he had a certain number of extra beds and extra stable room for keep- ing horses. If the person applying for such tavern license proved to the satisfaction of the court that he had the char- acter, extra beds and Stable room required by the law, license was granted him, and he was required to enter into bond with security to keep his said tavern as required by law. Philo Averil was the first person to obtain license to keep a tavern in Vevay. He obtained license on the 24th of No- vember, 1814, and on the 25th of November, 1814, the court established the following rates to be charged by tavern keepers in the county of Switzerland. For a meal of victuals, 25 cents; for lodging, per night, 123 cents; for corn or oats, per gallon, 12+ cents; for horse at hay, per twenty-four hours, 25 cents; for whisky, per half pint, 124 cents; for peach brandy, per half pint, 124 cents; for Holland gin, French brandy and Jamaica spirits, 50 cents; for rum, per half pint, 373 cents; for imported Rladeria wine, per Dzcfour.: Early Vevay 195

quart, $2; for Switzerland Maderia wine, per quart or bottle, $1; for Switzerland red wine, per quart or bottle, 75 cents; for domestic gin and cherry bounce, per half pint, 18%cents. In March, 1815, license was granted to William Cooper to keep a tavern in Vevay. On the 30th of March, 1835, a license was granted to Peter Harris to keep a tavern at his house in this county, a:id in November, 1815, he laid out the town of Jacksonville. In September, 1815, license was granted to “Uncle” Thomas Armstrong (as he was familiarly called), to keep a tavern in the town of Vevay for one year from the first day of July, 1815, he having entered into bond with security at that time. This was, in fact, the first tavern established in Vevay with the ostensible purpose in view of entertaining travelers, for let it be borne in mind that at that time “tippling houses” were unknown in this new country, as by the laws of force, none but tavern keepers were permitted to sell liquor by the small or, as was their usual expression, “by the half pint”. In some instances the laws were evaded and persons ob- tained license to keep a tavern who had not the requisite number of extra beds and the extra stable room. This law was in force for some years under the state government. On one occasion a person, to obtain license, borrowed three beds of his neighbors and set them up in his house, which was a small one, and rented of a neighbor a stable on an adjoining lot for one month, and when the county court niet he pro- duced his proof and proved to the satisfaction of the court that he had the requisite number of extra beds and extra stable room to accommodate the number of travelers and their horses that the territorial law required and obtained a tavern license. Some few days afterward this tavern had no extra beds and soon afterwards no extra stable room, for he had returned the borrowed beds and given up the rented stable, but having the license he continued to sell spiritous and other liquors by the haif pint. This circumstance is here related to show that the laws relating to the retail of spiritous liquor were violated in those early days of Switzerland county, as well as in the days that are within the remembrance of many of our young men. ‘‘Uncle” Thomas Armstrong kept his first tavern in a two story log house that stood on the corner of Main and Union streets on the lot on which John F. Doan has erected his new frame dwelling; and continued there until he built his new frame building on Market street, being the house now owned and occupied by John L. Thiebaud. The relation of an anecdote in which “Uncle Thomas” was concerned may not be amiss in this connection: At the time he was keeping his tavern in the log house, corner of Main and Union streets, James Hamilton (the father of Edward P., William and John Hamilton, who are well known among LIS) carried on the hatting business in a shop on the half lot on the alley back oi tlie Baptist CIiLirch, and as it was customary with hatters in those days to call in some of their friends during the night, while coloring, to partake of a “chicken supper”. On one of these occasions Hamilton invited some of his friends, and among the number “Uncle Thomas”, to take supper with him. “Uncle Thomas” of course accepted the invitation and with the other guests partook of a splendid “chicken supper.” The next morning, when Mrs. Armstrong went to the coop for chickens for breakfast, lo! and behold, they had all “vamoused”. She called “Uncle Thomas” and informed him that some one had stolen all the chickens. “Uncle Thomas” at once suspected that he had the night previous been of the party that devoured the chickens which Mrs. Armstrong had intended for breakfast. He said nothing, but afterwards gave Hamilton a cursing for the trick he had played off on him. David McCormick obtained license to keep tavern in Vevay in September, 1815, and kept his tavern in a part of the house in which George E. Pleasants now resides. In May, 1816, license was granted to Samuel Fallis to keep a tavern in Vevay. The house in which he kept his tavern was a one story brick standing on Main street on the lot on which Charles Thiebaud’s dwelling house now stands and occupied by him at this time, At the same time license was granted to William T. Huff and to Jonas Baldwin to keep a tavern at their respective: houses in Vevay. Huff kept his tavern in a two story build- Dzifoiw: Early Veuay 197

ing which stood at the corner of Ferry and Main streets, where the LeClerc House now stands. Jonas Baldwin kept his tavern in the frame house iiow standing on the corner of Ferry and Market streets, now owned by the widow and heirs of the late Joseph Dalmazzo. To show the amount of taxes levied for the year 1816, and to show the camparisori between them and those of the present day may be a matter of curiosity if nothing more: On every horse, mule or ass above three years old, 26 cents. On first rate land at the rate of 37% cents per 100 acres. On second rate land at the rate of 25 cents per 100 acres. On third rate land at the rate of 12% cents per 100 acres. On stallions at the rate at which they stand by the season. On town lots and houses at the rate of 50 cents per $100 of their value. On George Ash’s ferry, $2.50. On Edward McIntire’s ferry, $2.50. On John Francis Dufour’s feriy, at Vevay, $5. On George Craig’s ferry, $1. On F. Louis Raymond’s ferry on Indian Creek, 50 cents. And the following taxes were levied as road taxes for the year 1816: On Daniel Dufour’s store, $3.00. On Lucien Gex’s store, $3.00. On Isaac Stanley’s store, $3.00. On David McCormick’s store, 50 cents. On Joseph Bentley’s store, 75 cents. On Jonathan Reeder’s store, 75 cents. On James Dalmazzo’s store, 25 cents.

The last county court held under the territorial govern- ment was held in February, 1816. On the 10th of February the first meeting of the board of county commissioners, under the state government, was held. What may be said in the coming numbers of this relation in regard to the early settlement of Switzerland county and Vevay will not have so much of the Swiss colonists as of the general settlements-for persons of other nationalities, after the conclusion of the war with Great Britain in 1815, began to settle in the county. Having had much in the former nunibers to mention that related to matters of no seeming importance, let the I?idianu Magazine of History reader remember that these matters are only related with a view of trying in some manner to have them in such a forin that in fifty or more years hence, those who are now boys and girls and will then be men and women may have them so as to relate them to their children and for this reason if no &her, every person subscribing for the Democrat should pre- serve a complete file of the paper. Having in the present number come to the time of the admission of Indiana into the Union as a state, in matters pertaining to the manner of doing county business, and other incidents and anecdotes growing out of the same, it will be proper to give some particulars in connection with the cir- cuit court, its judges, attcrneys, and o!Gcers, and many anec- dotes and incidents thzt may be recol!ected by the writer or gathered from those of riper years, who were on the stage of action when he was a mere boy. If any of these articles may hare appeared dull and of little interest to the reader let such remember that in the commencement the writer informed them that it was not his expectation that the language used would be so attractive as to cause the articles to be read on that account, but only as a matter of history, which, it is confessed, is rather “scat- tering” in its order of introducing the subjects spoken of. The first term of the circuit court in and for the county of Switzerland was begun and held on Friday, the 28th day of October, 1814, and was composed of a circuit, one presiding judge and two associate judges, appointed by the governor of the territory. There was present that term of the court the Hon. Elijah Sparks, circuit and presiding judge in the Third circuit, and the Hon. William Cotton and James McClure, associate judges of the circuit court in and for the county of Switzerland, who produced their commissions as such judges with the certificate thereon of the oaths of oftice having been duly ad- ministered to them; and also John Francis Dufour, who pro- duced his commission as clerk of said court with a certificate endorsed thereon of the oath of office having been duly ad- ministered to him. The coui-t therecpon required the said John Francis Dufour to give bond, with security, in the sum Dufour: Early T’evay 199 of one thousand dollars, payable to his excellency, Thomas posey, governor of the , and his successors in ofice, conditioned fcr the faithful performance of the du- ties of the oflice of clerk of said court, as directed by the act of Assembly in such cases made and provided. There was also present John Francis Siebentha!, who also produced his comniissioii as sheriff of the county, with a certificate endorsed thereupon of the oaths of office haring been duly administered to him. The court required him to enter into bond, with security, in the sum of four thousand dollars, payable to the governor of the territory, and his successors in ofice, con- ditioned for the faithful performance of the duties of the office of sheriff for the county of Switzerland, as direeted by the act of assembly in that case made and provided. The following named persons having been summoned as grand jurors came into court : James Rous, foreman, Stilwell Heady, Philo Rveril, George Coggeshell, Peter Harris, Louis Gex Aboussier, John McClure, Amos Brown, Joseph McFall, Robert Gullion, Thomas RIounts, John Nelson, Philip Eettens, Nathaniel Cotton, Abisha McKay, Henry Hannah, Joshua Kains and Peter Demaree, who, after being duly sworn and charged, retired to consult of the business before them. The following named persons were admitted to practice in this court as attorneys and counsellors at law: , , John Test and James Noble. The court appointed James Noble, Esq., attorney at law, prosecuting attorney for Switzerland county for and during good behavier. The court also ordered to be entered upon the records rules for the government of the practice in said court-which rules, upon reflection, it is thought proper to make more public than they now are in the old musty records of the court, for the terms of October, 1814, and March, 1815, which is only one- half quire of foolscap paper stitched together : I. The attorneys in managing business shall keep themselves within the bar. 11. All motions shall be made in the morning before entering upon the docket, and not afterward, except such as necessarily arise out of the opening or progress of a cause. 111. Not more than two counsel on each side will be heard in argument upon any motion whatever. IV. Not more than three counsel on each side will be permitted to argue a cause to the jury, except the same shall appear to the court to be of more than ordinary importance. V. All motions for continuance, and all motions for new trial, grounded upon facts, shall be supported by affidavit and decided without argument. VI. When a cause is regularly called and postponed by the con- sent of the parties, the same shall not be called again until the docket is gone through, and upon the second calling shall not be continued for any ordinary cause of continuance arising posterior to postponement. VII. No time will be given to draw a plea after the cause is called for trial; provided, the declaration was on file in sufficient time for putting in plea upon the rules. VIII. No agreement of the bar will be regarded by the court unless the same is upon the record or assented to by each party. IX. Each cause, when called in order, must be immediately entered upon for trial, continued or postponed by consent of the parties, or placed at the foot of the docket by the plaintiff. X. No motion in arrest of judgment, or for a new trid, will be heard after the expiration of three days from the rendering of verdict, except the cause for a new trial shall have been discovered after the expiration of that period. XI. In no case shall more than one attorney be permitted to speak on the closing argument.

This completed the first days’ proceedings of this, the first court held for Switzerland county. On Saturday, the 29th of October, 1814 the court met. The grand jury impanelled on the previous day returned into court with an indictment against David Bebee for selling unwholesome provisions, and having no further business, were discharged. The prosecuting attorney moved the court that a venire facias issue against David Bebee, returnable on the first day of the next March term of the court to answer to the in- dictment. James Noble was allowed sixteen dollars for his services as prosecuting attorney during the term, which was ordered to be certified to the sheriff for payment. The court then adjourned to meet on the 27th of March, 1815. At the March term of the court on the first day Hon. Elijdi Sparks, circuit judge, and William Cotton, associate judge, were in attendance. On the first day of the term the following named persons were sworn as grand jurors: John Gilliland, foreman, James Stewart, James McKay, Aclout Sample, William Harcoat, Norman B. McGruder, William Smith, Peter Lock, Nicholas Lentz, John Campbell, Zela Bfoss, Solomon Nighswongei., GrifXth Dickerson, William T. Huff, John Mills, John Rayl, Thomas Gilliland, John Fenton and Phillip Fry. John Lawrence and Pinkney James were admitted to prac- tice law in this court. The ease of the against David Eebee, in- dicted at the October term of the court, was tried by a jury which returned a verdict of not guilty. The grand jury found and returned into court eight in- dictments for assault and battery and affrays, two for larceny, and one for retailing spiritous liquors without license. James McKay, one of the grand jurors, was arraigned for contempt of the court by being intoxicated, and the court being informed by him that he did not intend offering a contempt to the court by getting and remaining intoxicated, the cotirt discharged him. Philip Fry, also a grand jurour, was arrainged for a con- tempt of court by absenting himself from the grand jury without permission of the court; he stated to the court that he had no intention of offering a contempt to the court, upon which he was discharged. James Noble was allowed twenty dollars for his services during the term as prosecuting attorney. The court adjourned until the next term. The next term of the court commenced on the 26th day of June, 1815, with the Hon. James Noble as circuit judge, and the same associates as at the other term. William Hendricks was appointed prosecuting attorney. Stephen C. Stevens was, on motion of Alexander A. Meek, allowed to practice as an attorney and counsellor at law at this court ex gvatia. At the October term, 1815, of the court, the same judges were on the bench as at the June term. 202 Indiana Illagazine of History

At this term of the court Alexander Kolton, Joseph F. Fala- ley and Reuben Kidder were admitted to practice as attorneys and counsellors at law in this court. At the March term, 1816, the Hon. Jesse L. Holman, hav- ing been appointed circuit judge, M as present, and presided, the associate judges also being on the bench. William Hen- drick was still prosecuting attorney. At this term of the court Stephen C. Stevens was admitted to practice as an attorney and counsellor at law in this court. Two cases for divorce were commenced at the March term, 1816; George Millen against Eliza Millen, and Maria Wilson against William Wilson. In both cases it appeared that the defendants were non-residents of the territory ; the court therefore ordered that a copy of the order should be inserted in the Westem Sun eight weeks successively. The Western Swn was published at Vincennes. At the June term of the court these two divorce cases appeared on the docket, and it was made to appear to the satisfaction of the court that the defendants were not inhabikants of the territory, the court ordered that notice of their pendency be inserted in the Indiana Register for eight weeks successively. The Indiana Register was published in Vevay by William C. Keen; it may be well to recollect this fact-for this is the best evidence that can now be had of the date of the commencement of a newspaper in Switzerland county, namely ; between the first of April and middle of June, 1816, as it is intended to give a history of the newspaper enterprize in this county in some future number. In the case of the United States against David Bebee, for selling unwholesome flesh, the indictment for which was found by the first grand jury ever impanel!ed in Switzerland county, and which was tried at the second term of the circuit court, the following are the names of the persons composing the jury which tried the case: Robert McKay, Robert Baker, Ralph Cotton, Jr., Robert Cotton, John M. Johnson, Williani Campbell, Rawleigh Day, Thomas Paxton, Adam Cline, Walter Clark, John T. Denning and Luke Oboussier. The first indictment found by the grand jury for larceny was at the second term of the court, and was against a female. Dzifow: Early Vecay 203

Her name was Isabel English. An indictment for assault and battery was also found against her. She was tried on the indictment for larceny by a jury and acquitted. On the in- dictment for assault and battery she was fined by the court, $1 and costs, and she was required to enter into recognizance in the sum of $25 for keeping the peace for six months. She came into coui-t and her own recognizance was taken for keep- ing the peace towards all the good citizens of the United States, and more especially towards the person and property of Viletta Richie, for the space of six months.

It appears to have been the invariable practice in the cir- cuit court under the territorial government that when a per- son was found guilty of an assault and battery, he was re- quired to enter into recognizance to keep the peace. This no doubt was required by the laws then in force. Would it not be a good provision to have incorporated into our statutes at this day? It would no doubt be the means of preventing the many complaints that are now brought into our courts for assault and battery, for it would no doubt deter persons from assaul- ing and beating those with whom they would become angry. The following are the names of all attorneys admitted to practice in the circuit court from the formation of the county and until the state was admitted into the Union : Amos Lane, William Hendricks, John Test, James Noble, John Lawrence, Finhey James, Stephen C. Stevens, Alexander Holton, Joseph F. Farley, Reuben Kidder, Hezekiah B. Hall, Edward Nichols, D. T. Maddol; and Jeremiah Sullivan. There is still living of these attorneys who were admitted to practice law in our early courts only two: Stephen C. Stevens, who was admitted at the June term, 1815, and Jere- miah Sullivan, who was admitted at the October term, 1812. It is worthy of remark here that these two lawyers, who have been attending their profession for more than half a cen- tury, were both at one time judges of the supreme court of Indiana. Of the others it may be interesting to many younger persons to know that Amos Lane represented the Third eon- gressonal district of Indiana for two or three congresses; as did also John Test. James Noble was one of the first sen- ators from Indiana in the United States senate, and resided at Brookville. William Kendricks was representative in con- gress, governor of the state, and one of the senators from Indiana in the United States senate. Of the others, some died many years ago, and some of them left this part of the country, and nothing is known of their residence after leaving here. It appears that Judge Sparks was acting as judge only during the October term, 1814, and the March term, 1815; and that Judge Noble attended but one term of the court- the June term, 1815. At the October term, 1815, William Cotton and James McClure, the associate judges held the court as there was no presiding or circuit judge present, or on the bench during that term. At the March term, 1816, Jesse L. Holman presided as the circuit judge, and was the circuit judge until the state govern- ment was organized, when he is found on the bench of the supreme court as one of the judges. As an instance of his industry as a judge it may be remarked that the court met at 7 and 8 o’clock in the morning often during his term of office. At one time quite an amusing scene occurred in the court room before court met in the afternoon, during the time of Judge Holman’s being judge, which will here be related as a matter of amusement: A short time before the hour had ar- rived for the assembling of the court after dinner the two associates were sitting on the bench conversing together when a waggish person who was present stepped forward and seated himself on the right of the two associates and calling the atten- tion of the bystanders, exclaimed with an oath, “I’ll bet ten dollars there’s one hundred judges on the bench.” The by- standers, turning tawards where this person and the associate judges were sitting, on the bench from which justice was dis- pensed discovered that the wag had some kind of sport in his mind; one of the bystanders asked him, “How do you make that?” “Just look,” said the wag, “and I will show you ;” then pointing to himself he said, “A figure one ;” then pointing to the two associate judges on his left he said, “And two Dufour.: Early Vevay 20.5 cyphers make one hundred.” Leaving the bench amid a gen- eral road of laughter from the bystanders, and the down- cast look of the two associate judges, of whom it may at this point be said were good and pure men, but no more learned in the law perhaps than the associate judges we had under our laws requiring such judges. The courthouse which the county agent had contracted for the building of was not completed so that court could be held in it until at the October term, 1816; which appears to have been the first court held in the courthouse first built on the public square and which was removed to make place for the beautiful building that now graces the public square as the courthouse of this county. James Noble, William Hendricks and John Test were the three persons who prosecuted the pleas of the United States from the organization of the county until the organization of the state government, and they received for their services from $16 to $25, the lowest being $16 and the highest $25. This was paid out of the county treasury. The first probate business before the associate judges who had the settlement of decedents’ estates, was an application of Job Trusdell to have a deed made to him for two hundred and fifty-seven acres of land, which he had purchased of Charles Campbell, for which he held said Campbell’s bond; who had departed this life after the execution of the bond. The court ordered that the bond be filed in the clerk’s office. The administrators of said Campbell’s estate moved the court to appoint three commissioners to convey the land to the said Trusdell, according to the tenor of the bond, and the act of Assembly in such case made and provided. The court appointed William Campbell, John Campbell and William Pierson commissioners to convey the land to Job Trusdell in compliance with the conditons of a bond dated 26th February, 1814, according to the 28th section of an act of the legislature entitled “an act authorizing the granting of letters testamentary and letters of administration for the settlement of intestate estates and for other purposes, ap proved September 17th, 1807.” This order was made by the court on the 3rd of May, 1815. 206 Imduina Rlaya;silLe of History

The school sections, section 16, in each congressional town- ship which was reserved for school purposes, appears to have been under the control of the territorial legislature as early as 1815, and before the organization of the state government ; for on the 28th of October, 1815, at a special court Amos Brown was appointed by the court a trustee to lease the school sections within the township of Posey in this county, as the law directs; and John Francis Dufour was at the same time appointed a trustee to lease the school sections within the township of Jefferson in this county, as the law directs. It appears that under the laws of the territory a person who could not pay his debts was liable to be put in prison, or within the prison bounds, which in this county at the time of which this is written, extended to the limits of the town. There are two cases on record of persons petitioning the court under the act for the benefit of insolvent debtys, pray- ing to be discharged from the prison bounds of the county in which they were detained for causes set forth in their peti- tions. A schedule of all the debts owing, and all the property owned by the petitioner had to be made out and sworn to, and notice given to all his creditors to appear on a certain day and show cause, if any they could, why the petitioner should not be liberated. If the court were satisfied that notice had been given to all the creditors of the pendency of the petition, and the time at which it would be acted upon by the court, and that he had delivered all the property named in the schedule to some per- son as trustee, he could be set at liberty; and the court should order that the clerk issue his w-arrant to the officer holding the petitioner in custody commanding him to set the petitioner at liberty; and the court also had to appoint a trustee to dis- pose of all the property of the petitioner for the benefit of his creditors; and that such trustee should make a distribu- tion of the proceeds of such sale according to law. There appears to have been but two cases before the court under the territorial government. This was a very convenient manner of paying debts, near- ly as easy as under the general bankrupt laws made by con- gress in 1841, and the last bankrupt law, which is now in force. Tne public buildings, courthouse and jail, having been completed by the county agent, and paid for out of the money subscribed by those who wished the county seat located at Vevay ; and all the subscriptions having been paid except about $60, that balance was paid to said agent, who gave a receipt therefor as follows : Received, Dec. 2.5, 1821, of John Francis Dufour and Daniel Dufour, by the hands of John Francis Dufour, the sum of $63, being the amount uncollected of the subscribers to the subscription for the public buildings in Vevay, which the said John Francis Dufour and Daniel Dufour were securities for as appears by the annexed obligation, and which $63 are in full discharge of said obligation. ELISHAGOLAY, Agent fur S. C. Many persons have inquired what the word “Blane” at- tached to the name Daniel Dufour meant. An explanation of the custom by which that name is annexed, may not be un- interesting to those who may read these articles. In Switzerland, in Europe, and perhaps in some other countries of continental Europe, it is, 01- was, the custom to attach the family name of the wife to the name of the hus- band; for instance, Daniel Dufour married a woman whose family name was “Blane,” so after his marriage to her he wrote his name “Daniel Dufour Blane.” So with Mr. Zelim Humbert, who married for his wife a woman whose family name was “Droz”; after his marriage he wrote his name “Zelim Humbert Droz.” So with Mr. Louis Gex, he married for his first wife a woman whose family name was “Obous- sier,” after his marriage he wrote his name “Louis Gex Obous- sier.” These three persons are believed to be the only in- stances among the Swiss who first settled here who con- formed to that custom, they having married in Europe. It is not known how extensively this custom was observed in Europe; whether it was a custom prevailing among the aristocracy or among plebians; buit is certain that no one of the Swiss who formed the Vevay colony observed that custom on marrying in this country. Among the early settlers as early as 1814 and 1815, may be named Stuman Craig, Samuel Culver and Joshua Kains who lived below Vevay, and in the neighborhood of George 208 Zndiuna Magazine of History

Craig and opposite to Port William. The Joshua Kains here named it is supposed was Joshua Cain, the father of Judge David Cain, who now resides opposite Carrollton. Sometime in 1805 or 1806, the residents of that part of the county now known as Craig township, built a blockhouse, not far from where George Craig afterward settled, to which the residents repaired at the alarm being given that Indians were approaching. In this blockhouse those residing for some miles around were sheltered from the savage foe. George Craig himself still resided on the Kentucky side of the Ohio, yet he visited this side of the river, and had fre- quently sheltered in this blockhouse, and finally he purchased a large tract of land on which, some years afterwards, he located, cleared the land and planted a large orchard. When planting such an extensive orchard he was asked why he did so. He replied: “That my grand children may have plenty of apples to eat.” Not long since, his daughter, Mrs. Tubitha 0. Kyle, remarked that his grand children ate very few apples grown in that orchard. The names of James Hastie, who was the father of Wil- liam, George, Charles and John Hastie, all four of whom re- side in York township, and Charles Muret, who was the father of Julius Muret, Mrs. Mary McCormick, widow of John McCormick, and John L. Muret, appear as early as 1814. Their names are given as they were Europeans. Mr. Hastie first settled on Plumb creek, and in the early days of the set- tling of this county, he shipped his surplus produce down the river to find a market. For some time he had a very large “perouge,” made by digging out a very large poplar tree, (which might be termed a “big dugout,”) in which he shipped his surplus corn and potatoes to Louisville. Mr. Charles Muret was a physician, and the only one in the colony from about 1809 or 1810 to 1813. Although he was the only physician he had not much practice, for the people were then very seldom sick, and were not so much in favor of sending for a physician for every little ache and pain, as we of the present time. Some years after Dr. Muret had been in the country he concluded to return to Europe. His family in Switzerland 209

were wealthy and influential, and the doctor had received an excellent education, and was what we at this day would call smart. As the least expensive way of returning to Europe, he descended the river to New Orleans on a flat boat with Charles F. Krutz, or some one of the early river. traders. Ar- riving at New Orleans the doctor not having funds sufficient to pay his passage, engaged with the owner of a steam mill for a month or two as fireman. Having served out his time and received his pay he embarked on board a vessel bound to Bordeaux or Havre, in France, where he arrived after the usual length of time required to make the voyage. Arrived at the seaport he directed his steps to the office of an uncle, who was a banker and a wealthy person. Arriving at the office before the hour at which his uncle usually reached his office, the doctor inquired of a “domestique” who was sweep- ing the office, and without making himself known, if his uncle was in the office. Being answered in the negative, he inquired at what hour he would be in. The “domestique,” surveying the doctor from head to foot, inquired of him in a saucy manner, what he wanted. The doctor, who, perhaps, was not as gaily attired as persons who generally called to see his employer, informed the “domestique” that he wished to see him, and would call again when he was in. The doctor returned at the hour, met the same “domestique,” and inquired for the banker, The “domestique” inquired what business he had with the banker. The doctor only replied, “I wish to see him; I must and will see him;” at the same instant forcing his way into the office notwithstanding the remonstrances of the “domes- tique,” where he met his uncle, made himself known to him; and, after conversing together a short time, his uncle gave the doctor an order on a clothier near by, where he dressed himself decently, and with a cane and entire new suit of cloth- ing, made his way back to the office; on entering he met the “domestique,” to whom he addressed himself. “You scoundrel and puppy why did you insult me this morning?” The “domestique” asked his pardon and appeared very sorry for his conduct in the morning. The doctor only saying to him, apparently in anger, and brandishing his cane over his head: “You scoundrel and puppy, I will learn you how to insult gen- 210 Iqtdiana Magaztrhe of HGtor.?~

tlemen hereafter. Do you know whom you were treating so shamefully this morning. I will let you know that I was “fireman” in America.” Whereupon the “domestique” bowed and scraped and asked a thousand pardons ; supposing that he had insulted an officer of high rang from America in the person of the doctor, who had been a “fireman” in a steam mill. During the year 1813 or 1814, Amie Dufour, brother of the Dufour family, embarked for the United States; and, while traversing the Atlantic, the vessel on which he embarked was captured by a British cruiser, and he was in consequence detained many days and months before reaching the United States. He finally landed at Boston, and not having funds sufficient to defray the expense of traveling in any other man- ner, he started from Boston for the Swiss settlement on the Ohio, on foot; and traveled from Boston to Pittsburgh on foot ; often at night sleeping in a barn ; and reached his friends in New Switzerland during the fore part of the summer, ar- riving at his sisters, Mrs. Morerod’s, where he remained some time. He assisted in laying the brick of the brick dwelling now owned and occupied by J. R. Morerod. He also assisted in making the brick and laying them, to build the back build- ings, such as the kitchen and smoke house. Mrs. Morerod, after the arrival of her brother Amie, hung the clothes he wore while traveling, and in which he slept in the barns, on a peach tree before the house. Under the peach tree afterwards came up and grew some “orchard” grass, the first ever seen in the west by the pioneers of that day. The seed, no doubt, having attached to the clothes in one of the barns, was thus brought to the west. Sometime in 1814 one Bazilla Clark came to Vevay and established a nail factory on the lot, corner of Main and Wal- nut streets, which he continued to carry on for some time. The nails were cut by horse power, and the heads were made by placing one nail at a time in a vice, and with a ham- mer was flattened out to make the head. Nails thus made by him at that time sold for about 25 cents per pound. This was a tedious manner for making nails in comparison with the manner of cutting and finishing nails by the machinery in use for that purpose at this day. Dufour: Early T7el;ay 211

The first brick building erected in Vevay was the old court- house, the walls of which were put up in 1815, but not com- pIeted until the October term, 1816, of the circuit court, that being the first court held in it. In the fall of 1815 Lucien Gex built a small one story brick on Main street, in which he kept his store for some time. That small brick is the oldest brick building now standing in the town, and may be seen standing opposite the residences of Col. Ormsby and James Harwood. It has been said by Richard Dumont, (now deceased), that the first marriage license granted in Switzerland county after its organization, was granted to himself to marry Ma- tilda Phillips. Mrs. Dumont is still living, and resides in Cincinnati. Among the early traders to New Orleans, or the “Missis- sippi country” as it was then called, may be named Charles F. Krutz and George Turner, who lived on the Kentucky side of the river, the father of Robert and John Turner; who each year descended the river with boats laden with produce. It is said that Mr. Turner, on some of his trips, took with him turkeys, dressed and packed in barrels. He purchased in the fall all the wild turkeys he could, took their breasts, and placing them in barrels, put a pickle or brine on them, and in that manner kept them in fine conditon; and it is said he made considerable money on turkeys thus prepared. After selling out in the lower country the hands who took the boats down, as well as the owners, to get home, traversed the Indian country on foot; or, if they preferred, and had the means they purchased a “Chickasaw poney,” on which to make the trip; which required a few more hours than are now re- quired to make the trip from New Orleans to Louisville or Cincinnati. After the organization of the county of Switzerland it was necessary to select and elect some person to represent the county in the territorial legislature. The county not being fully organized until October, 1814, it is probable no one was elected for representative until sometime in 1815. Elisha Golay was the first representative elected and, it is thought the only one from Switzerland county until the organization of the state government, in 1816. 212 Indiana iLlagazine of History

On the second Monday in May, 1816, delegates were elected from the several counties of the (then) territory to meet in convention to form a constitution for the state. In Switzer- land county only two candidates were before the people for their suffrages, to-wit : John Dumont and William Cotton. Judge Cotton was chosen to represent Switzerland county in that convention. The convention met at Corydon on the sec- ond Monday in June, 1816, and on the 29th of June the dele- gates signed the constitution adopted by them, for and in the name of the people; which Constitution was in full force until the adoption of the present constitution of the state in 1851. Candidates presenting themselves before the people, seek- ing their suffrages, were not chosen so much (in whose early days of the territory and state) on account of their politics, as for their known capacity to discharge the duties of the ofices to which they aspired. It may be observed, however, that in the election of a delegate to congress the slavery question was agitated as early as 1810 and 1811. At an election for delegate at one time was the anti-slavery candidate, and, perhaps, John Lawrence the slavery candidate. Jennings was elected, and became very prominent as an opponent of admit- ting slavery in Indiana when it should become a state. So prominent was he, that at one time John Francis Dufour, being at Lexington, Kentucky, and calling on Henry Clay, took occasion to inquire of him what he though of the young delegate from Indiana territory. Mr. Clay remarked that he was a prominent and promising young man, but thought he was wrong in his opposition against admitting slavery into the state which was to be made of the territory of Indiana. Mr. Jennings continued steadfast in his oppositon to mak- ing a slave state of Indiana, and lived to be the president of the convention that formed the first constitution of Indiana, and was elected the first governor of the state, and was sev- eral times returned to congress as a representative of the state. Years after Indiana became a state, and began to go far ahead of Kentucky in increase of wealth and population, Mr. Dufour happened to be at Mr. Clays, near Lexington, when, in the course of conversation, Mr. Clay remarked that, in his Dufozw: Early Vevay 213

opinion, the people of Indiana were wise in excluding slavery from the state; as he was convinced that the rapid growth of the state in wealth and population was attributable in a great degree to the fact that slavery was prohibited ; while Kens tucky, with as fertile a soil as Indiana, and a much older state, was not increasing in wealth and population as fast; simply because slavery was tolerated in the state. In the spring of 1816, William C. Keen came to Vevay in company with a young man named Robert Burchfield, bring- ing with him a printing press. A partnership was formed be- tween William C. Keen, John Francis Dufour and Robert Burchfield, to publish a newspaper and carry on the printing business. The publication of the newspaper, the Indiana Register, was commenced sometime in the spring of 1816, perhaps in the month of May or June, under the management of the firm established by the three persons above named, under the name and style of Dufour, Keen & Co., and con- tinued until one volume and a half of the paper was com- pleted by them. The partnership thus formed commenced the newspaper enterprize in Switzerland county. On the 16th of December, 1817, the partnership of Dufour, Keen & Co., was dissolved by mutual consent, and all indebted to the firm for job printing, advertising and subscription were requested to make payment to Robert Burchfield. On the dissolution of that partnership John Francis Duf our announced to the patrons of the Indiana Register that he had become sole proprietor of the printing establishment, and that it was his intention to continue the publication of the Register. Mr. Dufour secured the services of Robert Burchfield, who was a practical printer, to do the mechanical work of the printing establishment, and he was the “printer” and Mr. Dufour editor and publisher. Mr. Burchfield receiving a certain part of the receipts of the establishment for his services; in fact, he was a silent partner. The Register office was carried on by Messrs. Dufour & Burchfield until the latter part of the year 1819, or beginning of 1820. At which time John Douglas came to Vevay and took charge of the office, either by purehas- ing or hireing the press and materials-it is not known which -and continued to conduct the paper for, perhaps, about two 214 Indiana Magazir~eof History

yeam and a half; when he removed to the then scat of govern- ment of the state, Corydon, where he remained until 1824, when he removed to Indianapolis, and there established the Indiana State Journal, which he continued to conduct until the time of his death. William C. Keen again took charge of the office, and in November or December, 1823, re-commenced the publication of the Indiana Register, and continued its publication until about 1826 ; when he retired from the printing business for n time, and the business was carried on by Thomas Berryman and John Allen. Whether they continued the paper under the same name is not now recollected. However, John Allen, the junior partner in the business, left Vevay and removed to Salem in Washington county, where he published a paper called the Annotator, until his death from cholera in 1832 or 1833. Berryman continued in Vevay until perhaps the latter part of 1831 or beginning of 1832; and during this interval Keen removed to Printer's Retreat, taking his printing estab- lishment with him; and in partnership with a person by the name of Child commenced the publication of a paper called the Weekly Messenger; which was continued until in 1836 or 1837, when Child took the establishment to Warsaw, Kentucky, where he and one Josephus B. Kent published a paper for some time, and Keen purchased the steam mill in Vevay of Joshua Smithson, giving his Printer's Retreat lands in pay- ment therefor. About the year 1832 one Richard Randall came to Vevay with a printing press, and commenced the publication of the Monitor, a neutral paper in politics ; which was continued for three or four years; during which time a very lively news- paper war was carried on between Randall and Keen & Co. But finally Keen and Randall suspended the business of print- ing; Randall taking his press and materials to Madison or Vernon, and the establishment of Keen & Co. was removed to Warsaw as above mentioned. Switzerland county would then have been left without a printing establishment had not Isaac Stevens, Jr. soon after the presidential election of 1836, brought to Vevay a printing establishment, and commenced the publication of the ViZZwe DzLfoiw: Early Trevay 215

Times, which was also neutral in politics. The publication of the Times was continued by Isaac Stevens until the com- mencement of the political campaign in 1840, when the press and materials were disposed of by Edward Patton, who it appears owned the establishment at the time, to Wilson H. Gray, previous, however, to the commencement of the cam- paign in 1840. Stevens had changed the course of the Times and in 1838 or 1839 conducted it as a Democratic paper. When Gray purchased the establishment it was the under- standing that he was to continue the publication of the paper as a Democratic paper; and he commenced his career here as the editor of a Democratic paper, which appeared to be in consonance with his political views; he having for some years previous conducted the Madison Coacrier as a Democratic paper. However after the candidates for senator and representa- tive and for county officers were placed before the voters of the county, Joseph C. Eggleston, who had been a life-long Democrat, was put in nomination by the Whig party for sen- ator ; whereupon Gray changed, or contemplated changing, his paper from a Democratic to a Whig paper; whereupon, Edward Patton, who had sold the press and materials of the establishment to Gray, waited on Gray to ascertain if it was true that he was about to change the political course of the Times, and being answered by Gray in the affirmative, Patton took possession of the office and placed it under the control of the Democratic central committee of the county, who con- ducted the paper through the canvass to the close of the volume. Joseph C. Eggleston, after Gray was dispossessed of the Times office purchased a new press and materials and started Wilson H. Gray in the publication of a Whig paper entitled the Statesman, which was conducted by him until sometime in 1841 or 1842, when the publication was entirely suspended, and Eggleston disposed of the press and material. At the expiration of the year that the Times was con- ducted by the Democratic central committee, James G. Fan- ning came to Vevay and took upon himself the publication of a Democratic paper, which he called Spirit of the Times, 216 Iizdiana Magazine of Histoyy

the publication of which was continued by him from 1841 until 1843, or the beginning of 1844 ; after which Isaac Steveiis took charge of the press and material, which he had brought here, and, in connection with Benjamin L. Simmons, com- menced the publication of the Indiana Palladium, which was continued for two or three years, when Stevens and Simmons disposed of the establishment to C. S. Horton, a brother-in-law of J. C. Wells and Walter H. Wells. Horton commenced the publication of a paper which he named Ohio Valley Gazefte, and continued its publication for two or three years, when the establishment was disposed of by Horton to Otis S. and Frederick J. Waldo, who continued the publication of a Demo- cratic paper for a short time, then turned it to a neutral, and finally, in lS53 or 11854, to a Know Nothing organ. In the fall of 1855 one Charles Scott came to Vevay with a printing establishment and commenced the publication of a Democratic paper called The News, which he continued for one or two years, during which time the Reveille, published by F. J. Waldo, was the organ of the opposition to the Demo- cracy. Scott finally sold out the News office to one P. H. Wale, a young Vermont lawyer, who soon failed and the establish- ment went into the possession of Benjamin F. Schenck who in connection with Merret Tague continued the publication of the News for two or three years, when the materials were disposed of by Benjamin F. Schenck to the Reveille office, so that the two printing establishments were united and under the control of F. J. Waldo. After the adoption of the constitution of the state in 1816, and the admission of Indiana into the Union as an independ- ent and sovereign state, the mode of transacting county busi- ness was changed, so that instead of the associate judges transacting that business, three county commissioners were elected for that purpose. The first commissioners elected were James Rous, Cabel Mounts and Isaac Stanley, who met at the courthouse in Vevay on the 10th day of February, 1817, that being the day, as appears of record, appointed by law for the first meeting of the board of commissioners in each county of the state. It appears that James Rous was elected to serve until the first Dufmw: Early Vevay 217

Monday in August, 1818, and Isaac Stanley until the first Monday in August, 1819, and Caleb Mounts until the first Monday in August, 1820. It may not be out of place to say here that James Rous resided on what is now the pauper farm in Craig township, Isaac Stanley in Vevay, where he was merchandizing, and Caleb Mounts in the upper end of the county, near Grant’s creek. No doubt there are those in that part of Posey township that may remember him. The board having been organized on the first day, adjouimed until the next day. The only business transacted on the second day was the dividing of the county into five townships, named Posey, Cot- ton, Ross, Craig and Jefferson. All that part of the county lying east of the line dividing ranges one and two in the district of lands offered for sale at Cincinnati, to form one township, to be known by the name and style of Posey township. All that part of the county which lies within the following bounds, to-wit: Beginning at the southeast corner of sec- tion twelve, town two, range two, thence running west with the sectional line to the southwest corner of section nine, town three, range three, thence north to the county line, thence east with said line to the range line dividing ranges one and two, thence south with said range line to the place of be- ginning; to form one township, to be knomii by the name and style of Cotton township. All that part of the county which lies in the Jeffersonville district north of the line dividing townships five and six, to form and be one township, to be known by the name and style of Ross township. All that part of the county which lies west of the sec- tional line, which strikes the Ohio river between fractional sections thirty-two and thirty-three in town two, range three, in Cincinnati district, and south of the line dividing tow? ships five and six in Jefferson district, to form and be one township, to be known by the name and style of Craig town- ship. All that part of the county which lies within the follow- ing bounds, to-wit : Beginning where the line dividing range 218 Indiana Magazine of Histovy

one and two, strikes the Ohio river, thence running north with said line to the southeast corner of section twelve, town two, range two, thence west with the sectional line to the south- west corner of section nine, town three, range three, thence south with the sectional line to the Ohio river between frac- tional sections thirty-two and thirty-three in town two, range three, thence up the river following the meanders thereof to the place of beginning, to form and be one township, to be known by the name and style of Jefferson township. The board, on the third day of the sessim, ordered tht an election for the purpose of electing justices of the peace in the several townships o€ the county, be held on Fatnrday, the 22nd day of Febrmry, 1817 ; and that the voters of Posey township elect two justices of the peace; the voters olr Cotton township one; the voters of Ross township one; the voters of Craig township two ; and the voters of Jefferson tonrnship two. The board further ordered that on Saturday, the first day of March, 1817, an election should be held at the court- house in Vevay, to elect two additional justices of the peace, who should reside at the county seat, according to the law in this case made and provided. The board also ordered that the place of holding ele ct’ lO!?S in Posey township be at the house of Elizabeth Searcy; in Cotton township at the house of Lot Hamman in Allensville; in Ross township at the house of William Ross; in Craig township at the house of Daniel Bray; and in Jefferson town- ship at the courthouse in Vevay. The board also appointed the following named persons as inspectors of elections in their several townships ; Posey township, William Pierson ; Cotton township, Joseph Pugh; Ross township, James G. Wilson; Craig township, George Craig ; and Jefferson township, Laur- ence Nihell. The clerk was ordered to make out an extract of these proceeding and cause one hundred copies thereof to be printed, and delivered to the sheriff, to be by him distributed through- aut the county. This was the notice given of the time and the place of holding the elections for justices of the peace, and also the notice to the persons appointed as inspectors of elections in the several townships of their appointment. This Dufour: Early Vevay 219 completed the business of the first meeting of the board of county commissioners for Switzerland county. The next session was begun and held on the 12th of May, 1817. The board appointed George Wade and Martin Adkins constables for Posey township ; Newton H. Tapp, James Du- gan and. Frederick Waldo constables for Jefferson township ; and Larken Cook constable for Ross township. On the second day of the session Samuel Fallis was ap- pointed treasurer for the county for one year from the second Monday in February, 1817. The board appointed the follow- ing named persons listers of taxable property within their respective townships : George Wade, for Posey ; Joseph Noble, for Jefferson; George Bennett, for Cotton; Larken Cook, for Ross ; and John Wright, for Craig. Abram Vandusen was appointed constable for Craig. The board also appointed superintendents for the several school sections No. 16 in the several congressional townships in the county. They appointed supervisors for the roads and allot- ted the hands to each supervisor. They also appointed fence viewers and overseers of the poor for the several townships, and this being done, the arrangements for the transaction of the county business was completed and put into operation. A11 the business transacted by the commissioners for the first year or Iwo, was, of course, very tedious, and required much time to perfect all the business, as everything was new, and all that was done had to be done from the knowledge the commissioners had of the different localities of the county. About the year 1817 and 1818 quite a spirited contest began to manifest itself among the rival military aspirants. There were several persons very anxious to fill the offices of colonel and lieuterlant-colonel of the regiment of militia to be organized in the county. The two most prominent being Rawleigh Day and Paxton W. Todd, the latter of whom was elected lieutenant-colonel ; while the former, who on many occasions, in quite a boisterous manner, made it generally understood by all who heard him that “he could fight a funeral and die the death of a pilgrim’s progress”; “that his father was a dutchess and his mother was a duke, and I, Colonel Rawleigh Day, am Colonel of the bloody 14th regiment of In- diana militia”. Such then, let it be borne in mind, was the 220 Indiana Magazine of History

commandant of the regiment of militia which yearly, for some years, was called together in the quiet town of Vevay to ex- hibit to the citizens their fine military bearing under their noted commandant, Col. Rawleigh Day, armed and equipped -not as the law directed-but with cornstalk guns, and all the accoutrements to correspond. The 1ieut.-colonel did not cut quite such a fantastic figure on parade as his superior in command, and they too frequently difkred as to the man- ner in which certain evolutions should be performed which, on more than oiie occasion, was the cause of a regular battle between the two field oflicers in the evening, after the regi- ment was dismissed, in which the claret imbibed caused the “ciaret” to flow freely from the wounds received. These dif- ferences of opinion not only caused these two “heroes” to shed their blood in these battles, but caused the grand jurors and the judge and officers of the courts to spend some of their time in vindicating the civil law for violations of its mhole- some provisions, as the records of the court about that time will make plain. There were several companies cominaiided by Francis S. Lindley, George G. Knox, Charles Henderson, Henry Peters, John Stepleton and others, not now recollected, belonging to the regiment of which Colonel Day was commandant, which performed company drill some two or three times in the course of the summer, battalion drill once during the year, and in the fall the companies coinmaiided by the above named cap- tains, 2nd several other compmies, including a cavalry com- pany commanded by Captain John Fox, at one time met in Vevay and performed regimental drill. On these occasions the town was filled to overflowifig, not only with military but with many boys and rosy cheeked lasses, old men and women, who had come to town to see some of the wonderful military talents of the age exhibited on the field (not) of battle, but of fun and frolic, for such indeed seemed to be what every per- son, from the highest officer in that service down to the lowest private in the ranks, professedly had come together for. On such occasions gingerbread in sections and quarter sections, and cider by the glass, quart and gallon were in great demand, the demand sometimes exceeding the supp!y. (To be continued)